Apparatus for dehydrating air



Dec. 25, 1951 J KAUFMAN 2,579,830

APPARATUS FOR DEHYDRATING AIR 'Filed Oct. 26, 1945 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Hal INVENTOR.

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Dec. 25, 1951 H, J, KAUFMAN 2,579,830

- APPARATUS FoRpEHYDRA'rING AIR Filed Oqt. 26, 1945 V 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 o o o w 2 9 0 0 0] a o 0 6 I", 2 90 0} t 2 5*0 J6 INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 25, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT osrics APPARATUS'FOR DEHYDRATING AIR Hiram JosephKaufman, Detroit, Mich.

Application October 26, 1945, Serial No. 624,799

This is a continuation-impart of my copending application Serial No. 432,014, filed February 23, 1942 now Patent No. 2,390,104. Asin'the aforesaid application, the invention relates to air conditioning apparatus and to improvements in structural detail for improving the eiflciency of the apparatus and facilitating the maintenance.

Thus one object of the invention is to provide means for dividing the hygroscopic solution into numerous streams so that minute particles willv come into direct contact with a counterflow of air currents.

Another object is to provide removable solution contact members which can be easily removed for examination, repairing, repainting or replacing the parts of the apparatus which are in contact with the hygroscopic material.

These and other objects and advantages residing in the combination, arrangement and construction of parts will more fully be understood from a consideration of the following description and appended claim.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 illustrates a portable air conditioning apparatus in which a dehydrator unit embodying the present invention has been incorporated,

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a dehydrator unit similar to that shown in Fig. l, but illustrating a modified form of tray,

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the dehydrator unit shown in Fig. 1 taken on line IIIIII of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 taken on line IV-IV of the modified form shown in Fig.

Figs. 5 and 6 are plan views of the perforated form of tray illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, and

Figs. 7 and 8 are plan views of the modified form of tray illustrated in Figs. 2 and In Fig. l the chemical dehydrator unit ill is shown supported in a cabinet I 2. Hygroscopic solution dripping through the trays it pass through the screen l6 and plate l8 into the tank 20, all as more fully described in Patent No. 2,390,104.

As more clearly shown in Fig. 3, the unit it has side walls 22, an open flange bottom 2 and an open top closed by a removable lid 2%. Horizontally spaced and vertically disposed cells 23 formed from wire or other perforated structure are filled with calcium chloride or some other known chemical dehydrant. Between each cell 28 is a vertical air passage 30 for passage of air up through the bottom 24 and out the side openings 32, regulated by the hinged side 1 Claim. (01. 1834.3)

portions 34 which function as dampeners. In Fig. 1 the airflow through the unit It is indicated by arrows.

As the air passes up through the unit [0, a hygroscopic solution is formed which flows downwardly counter to the airflow. This solution drips down through the perforated trays 35.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, it will be noted that the holes 38 of each tray 36 are in staggered relation to the holes 38 of adjacent trays 36. In this manner the hygroscopic solution is divided into numerous streams so that minute particles will come into direct contact with a counterfiow current of air. With this arrangement there is a more intimate contact between the solution and the air than has been possible in constructions that have heretofore been used. The specific gravity of the solution is found to be lower, indicating that more absorption of the water vapor has taken place and the solution is free from crystals which mightotherwise cause clogging and would afiect the efficient operation of the unit.

The construction of the trays 36, which facilitates their installation and removal, comprises vertical sides having turned-in flanges 40. This enables the trays 36 to be stacked on top of each other and to be supported in spaced relation. All of the trays 36 are supported on the flange 24 at the bottom of the unit. The flange 40 of the uppermost tray 36 supports the cells 28. To remove the trays 36, the lid 26 is removed, the cells 28 are withdrawn from the unit Ill, and the trays 36 are then accessible for removal through the top of the unit In.

In Figs. 2, 4, 7 and 8 is shown a modification of tray construction in which slats of wood or other suitable material are employed in lieu of perforated plates. Longitudinal slats 42 support the cross slats 44. From Figs. 7 and 8 it will be noted that the cross slats are so disposed that when the tray of Fig. '7 is superimposed on the tray of Fig. 8, the slots 46 between the cross slats 44 are in staggered relation. It will be readily appreciated that the solution in passing through the trays of Figs. 7 and 8 will be broken up into many streams similar to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 6.

It will be understood that in the tray construction shown in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, the perforated plates and racks, being loose, can be easily removed for examination, repair, repainting or replacement of any of the interior parts in contact with the chemical solution. The trays are simpler in construction than those previously employed and may be quickly and inexpensively fabricated. Where wood strips are used, painting is not necessary. Perforated metal, such as steel, may be used in constructions of the form illustrated in Figs. and 6, but it is anticipated that plastics or other material more resistant to chemical solutions may be employed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to cover by Letters Patent In combination with a chemical air dehydrator for removing vapors from air in which the waste hygroscopic solution formed from the hygroscopic solid flows downwardly by gravity and the air is moved upwardly in counter-flow to the waste solution and through the hygroscopic solid, said dehydrator comprising a housing providing an upper storage space for solid hygroscopic material partitioned into cells to provide air passages, of a cascading section positioned in said housing below said upper storage space, the lower ends of said air passages communicating with the upper portion of said cascading section, said cascading section formed from a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal trays having diagonally ar- 4 ranged openings therein whereby a relatively small rate of solution liquid flow is effectively presented to the counter-flowing air and the contacting efiiciency of the structure for cascading the liquid is not appreciably affected upon slight tilting of the dehydrator.

HIRAM JOSEPH KAUFMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 877,445 McPherson Jan. 21, 1908 885,230 Von Dulong Apr. 21, 1908 1,442,414 Rose Jan. 16, 1923 1,950,502 Madan Mar. 13, 1934 1,966,802 Miller et al Apr. 21, 1934 2,026,935 Downs Jan. 7, 1936 12,207,272 Simons July 9, 1940 2,274,704 Kaufman Mar. 3, 1942 2,279,326 Kaufman Apr. 14, 1942 2,366,540 MacLean Jan. 2, 1945 

